I did not remember my camera so I have no pics to share but the Flower Show was divine. I did bring home some daffodils, an orchid bloom, and a gardenia.
Then I set to work reviewing my flower seed list. I knew I wanted to group them according to days to germination so I didn't have half a flat needing light and no lid and the other still needing the humidity dome and heat. I had two 72 cell flats which were not plant based plastic (which I use for my organic veggies) and limited space so all the flowers needed to fit in those two flats. So I pulled out my seed packets and started to review the days to germination and was stumped by the next level of directions (scarification, soaking, stratification). Excuse me? So one step at a time, I organized by "days to germination" and then went to the internet.
Cosmos: Cosmic Orange (7-10d) and Bright Lights Mix (7-10d)
Amber Jewels (7-10d)
Minalobata: Spanish Flag (10-15d)
Nasturtiums: Empress of India (10-14d), Gleam Mix (4-14d), and for eating Organic Fiesta MixViola:Thunbergia: Spanish Eyes Mix (7-21d)
Cypress Vine: Red (7-21d)
Pansy: Swiss Giant Blend (10-20d)
Coreopsis: Mardi Gras (15-20d)
Morning Glory: Picotee Blue (10-15d), Heavenly Blue (7-21d), Flying Saucers (7-21d)
I had to learn new skills in a hurry. Some of the seeds required notching (scarification) and soaking overnight. Some required stratification (period of moist cold followed by warmth). The scarification I was able to do with a nail clipper being careful to avoid the ends of the seed. The soaking overnight messed with my original plan to sow everything today. So everything that could be direct seeded ended up in a Burpees self watering greenhouse flat with peat pellets. The flowers requiring scarification and soaking overnight (nasturtiums, cypress vine, thunbergia, morning glories) were planted the next day in MG seedstarting mix and a flat with a humidity dome. I notched and soaked all the seeds thinking some wouldn't swell and I could just sow the promising seeds. I was surprised to see many seeds the next day with emerging roots (or seedlings? I have no idea which end is up). I planted the seed "green thing emerging" side down. I hope that was right.
I had filled the flat with seedstarting mix the day prior and had water in the base tray. Unfortunately, the mix was soaked by the next day. I drained out the bottom tray and seeded anyway because I wasn't sure if I could leave the seeds soaking an additional day. I'm elevating the humidity dome so the soil can dry out. Perhaps the extra moisture will simulate nature with the snow melt we've had here with pure mud? One can hope...
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That will be all for flowers. I do have organic edible nasturtiums and crysanthemum which I will plant organically later and sunflowers and scarlet runner bean vine that I will likely direct sow. I have limited lights and space so I have to be careful to not overreach with the seeds. I did apply mylar (an emergency shock blanket from a first aid kit) and aluminum foil to try to maximize my light sources. Not a pretty look for the bedroom...
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